Dispensing toothbrush

ABSTRACT

A dispensing toothbrush includes a hollow handle. Toothpaste is positioned within the handle. A piston is positioned within the handle below the toothpaste. A brush is affixed to the top of the handle. The brush has an internal channel in fluid communication with the handle that provides a way for toothpaste to exit the toothbrush. A ball valve is positioned within the channel for preventing toothpaste from inadvertently leaking from the toothbrush. A thumbscrew is rotatably secured to the handle. The thumbscrew includes a threaded rod positioned within the handle. The threaded rod is threadably engaged with the piston. A knob is affixed to the bottom of the threaded rod and is positioned outside of the handle. Rotating the knob causes the piston to be driven upwardly so as to push toothpaste from the handle, past the ball valve, and from the brush.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to coating implements with material supply and, more particularly, to brushes, brooms, or mops with flow regulators.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Dentists recommend that everyone should brush their teeth after meals to prevent tooth decay. Unfortunately, it is not practical to carry a conventional toothbrush and tube of toothpaste in a pocket or purse since they are both bulky and prone to contaminate whatever they contact with toothpaste. Some people have proposed toothbrushes with internal, toothpaste-carrying compartments as a way to get around these problems. Compartmented toothbrushes have, however, not seen widespread commercial acceptance due to their generally complicated constructions, design flaws, and high costs. Therefore, a need exists for a compact and uncomplicated toothbrush that does not leak and that permits users to easily brush their teeth wherever they may be. Many users of my toothbrush would find a significant improvement in the health of their teeth.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In light of the problems associated with the known toothbrushes, it is a principal object of my invention to provide a dispensing toothbrush that is: compact in size, resistant to leaks, lightweight in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, and dependable in use.

It is another object of my invention to provide a toothbrush of the type described that is intuitive to use, requiring little instruction to operate effectively. My dispensing toothbrush can be operated virtually anywhere and in any orientation.

Briefly, my dispensing toothbrush achieves the intended objects by featuring a hollow handle. Toothpaste is positioned within the handle. A piston is positioned within the handle below the toothpaste. A brush is affixed to the top of the handle. The brush has an internal channel in fluid communication with the handle that provides a way for toothpaste to exit the toothbrush. A ball valve is positioned within the channel for preventing toothpaste from inadvertently leaking from the toothbrush. A thumbscrew is rotatably secured to the handle. The thumbscrew includes a threaded rod positioned within the handle. The threaded rod is threadably engaged with the piston. A knob is affixed to the bottom of the threaded rod and is positioned outside of the handle. Rotating the knob causes the piston to be driven upwardly so as to push toothpaste from the handle, past the ball valve, and from the brush.

The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of my dispensing toothbrush will become readily apparent upon further review of the following detailed description of an embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

My dispensing toothbrush can be more readily understood with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal, cross-sectional view of a dispensing toothbrush in accordance with my invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an exploded, longitudinal, cross-sectional view of my dispensing toothbrush.

Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the FIGS., a dispensing toothbrush is shown at 10. The toothbrush 10 includes a tubular handle 12 filled with toothpaste 14. A brush 16 is affixed to the top of the handle 12. The brush 16 has an internal channel 18 that provides a way for the toothpaste 14 to exit the toothbrush 10. A thumbscrew 20 is rotatably secured to the bottom of the handle 12. The thumbscrew 20 has a threaded rod 22 that extends the length of the handle 12. Positioned on the threaded rod 22 is a piston 24 that can be driven upwardly by rotating the thumbscrew 20 to push toothpaste 14 from the handle 12 and through the brush 16. A ball valve 26 positioned in the channel 18 prevents toothpaste 14 from inadvertently leaking from the handle 12.

The handle 12 includes a toothpaste reservoir 28 formed of lightweight plastic. The reservoir 28 has a container 30 within which is positioned a movable piston 24. The thumbscrew is rotatably secured to both the container 30 and the piston 24. By rotating the thumbscrew 20, the piston 24 is caused to move longitudinally in the container 30.

The container 30 has a bottom wall 32 that is both oval in outline and is provided with a small bore 34 at its center. A side wall 36 is affixed to, and extends upwardly from, the periphery of the bottom wall 32. A conical top wall 38 is affixed to, and extends upwardly from, the top of the side wall 36. The top wall 38 has an oval outline like that of bottom wall 32 and is provided with an opening 40 at its center that is axially aligned with the bore 34. A spout 42 is affixed to, and extends upwardly from, the top wall 38 around the opening 40. The spout 42 is externally, helically threaded for the attachment of an internally threaded cap (not shown) prior to the use of the toothbrush 10 and for the attachment of brush 16 during the use of the toothbrush 10.

The movable piston 24 is slidably fitted within the container 30. As shown, the piston 24 includes a resilient body 44 of oval shape like bottom wall 32 that is incapable of turning around a vertical axis in the container 30. Projecting upwardly from the periphery of the body 44 is a resilient lip 46 that presses snugly against the interior surface of side wall 36 and, during use, scrapes toothpaste 14 therefrom. An internally, helically threaded bore 48 is provided at the center of the resilient body 44 for axial alignment with the bore 34 and engagement with the rod 22.

The thumbscrew 20 includes a stub shaft 50 that extends through the bore 34 and is journaled for rotation in the bore 34. A knurled knob 52 is affixed to the bottom of stub shaft 50 outside of container 30. The knob 52 is planar for flush positioning against the bottom wall 32. Also, the knob 52 has an oval outline like that of bottom wall 32 for easy gripping and to help a user gauge the amount of toothpaste 14 that he has driven from the container 30 as will be described below. An externally, helically threaded rod 22 is affixed to the top of the stub shaft 50 and has a diameter that is greater than that of bore 34 to prevent thumbscrew 20 from being easily disengaged from the container 30. The threaded rod 22 extends upwardly through the container 30 to a point closely adjacent the opening 40. The rod 22 also passes snugly, yet rotatably, through the threaded bore 48 in the piston 24. The helical threads on the rod 22 and the piston 24 complement one another so that, by rotating the thumbscrew 20 in one direction, the piston 24 is moved upwardly on the rod 22 and, by rotating the thumbscrew 20 in the opposite direction, the piston 24 is moved downwardly on the rod 22. To facilitate the construction of the toothbrush 10, the thumbscrew 20 can be constructed from a number of separate pieces.

The toothbrush handle 12 is provided with a protective cover 54, formed of plastic, that snugly receives the toothpaste reservoir 28. The cover 54 has a conical top wall 56 sized and oval-shaped to snugly nest against the top wall 38. The top wall 56 has an opening 58 at its center through which the spout 42 can pass. The opening 58 is reinforced by an upwardly directed shoulder 60 that surrounds it and is integrally formed with the top wall 56. A side wall 62 is affixed to, and extends downwardly from, the periphery of the top wall 56 so as to possess an oval shape when viewed in cross section. When the reservoir 28 is fully inserted into the cover 54, the side wall 36 is fully enclosed by the side wall 62 with the knob 52 remaining easily accessible. If desired, the exterior of the side wall 62 can be provided with advertisements or other indicia (not shown).

Although the reservoir 28 and the protective cover 54 have been described as being oval in cross section, they can be provided with any shape as long as the piston 24 remains capable of sliding the length of the reservoir 28 without rotating within the container 30 when the thumbscrew is rotated. Thus, it is contemplated that the container 30 and the piston 24 have corresponding geometric shapes that key into one another. In the alternative, the piston 24 can be provided with one or more notches for engagement with one or more guide rails on the interior of side wall (neither shown) to prevent the turning of the piston 24. The dimensions and volume of the reservoir 28 is similarly a matter of design choice.

Toothpaste 14 is inserted into the container 30 between the spout 42 and the piston 24 prior to the use of the toothbrush 10. The toothpaste 14 is a dentifrice in the form of a paste or gel that is useful in cleaning the teeth of a user. The toothpaste 14 aids in the removal of dental plaque and food from the user's teeth. It also eliminates or masks halitosis and delivers active ingredients such as fluoride and xylitol for preventing tooth and gum disease.

During the use of the toothbrush 10, most of the cleaning of the user's teeth is done by the mechanical action of the brush 16, and not by the toothpaste 14. Toothpaste 14 may contain trace amounts of chemicals that may be toxic when ingested, so it is not intended to be swallowed.

Brush 16 includes a body 64 adapted, at its bottom, for releasable connection to the handle 12 and, at its top, supporting a plurality of bristles 66. The body 64 is made from stiff plastic and has an elongated neck 68 to the top of which a head 70 is affixed. The neck 68 is hollow and has an internally, helically threaded, lower part 72 that is screwed onto the spout 42. The neck 68 also has an upper part 74 that tapers gradually to an apex to which the bottom of head 70 is affixed. Like neck 68, head 70 is hollow. The hollow areas of both the neck 68 and the head 70 define the channel 18 for the toothpaste 14 through the brush 16. A number of outlet ports as at 76 extend forwardly from the channel 18 for dispensing the toothpaste 14.

An inwardly directed, peripheral flange 78 is provided in the head 70 at its point of connection to the neck 68. The peripheral flange 78 provides an orifice 80 in the body 64 for the measured flow of the toothpaste 14 from the brush 16. The peripheral flange 78 also serves as a seat for the ball valve 26 positioned atop the flange 78 in the channel 18. The ball valve 26 is normally pressed into flush, sealing engagement with the flange 78 by a compressed spring 82 formed of a non-corroding material and located in the channel 18 above the ball valve 26. An end cap 84 is affixed to the body 64 to close the top of the channel 18 and retain the compressed spring 82 and ball valve 26 within the head 70 adjacent the flange 78.

A multiplicity of bristles 66 is affixed to the body 64 and can be formed from any suitable material. As shown, the inner ends of the bristles 66 are imbedded in the head 70 adjacent to the outlet ports 76 to receive the toothpaste 14 emitted from the outlet ports 76. The outer ends of the bristles 66 are located remote from the head 70 and, during the use of the toothbrush 10, can be swiped against the teeth of a user for cleaning purposes.

Use

Use of the toothbrush 10 is straightforward. First, assuming that the toothbrush 10 is disassembled at the time of its initial use as shown in FIG. 3, the handle 12 is assembled by inserting the toothpaste reservoir 28 into the bottom of the cover 54. Then, the brush 16 is screwed onto the spout 42 extending upwardly through the opening 58 in the cover 54 thereby joining all of the parts of the toothbrush together. Now, the knob 52 is manually rotated several times to drive the piston 24 upwardly toward the broken line position in FIG. 1. The upward movement of the piston 24 drives the toothpaste 14 from the reservoir 28 and into the brush 16. The continued rotation of the knob 52 forces the toothpaste 16 past the ball valve 26 and outwardly from the brush 16 through the outlet ports 76. When the user is satisfied that a sufficient volume of toothpaste 16 has exited the ports 76, the brushing of his teeth can commence in the usual manner. During brushing, the ball valve 26 prevents the inadvertent leakage of toothpaste 16 from the reservoir 28 and contamination of the toothpaste 16 remaining in the reservoir 16.

After toothbrushing has been completed, the toothbrush 10 is rinsed with water to clean the bristles 66 of any toothpaste 16 remaining thereon. After rinsing, the toothbrush 16 can be kept in an assembled condition with the handle 12 and the brush 16 being kept together. In this condition, the toothbrush 10 can be conveniently carried in a pocket, suitcase, purse, or other tote without the possibility of individual parts being lost. The toothbrush 10 can be reused whenever necessary.

When the reservoir 16 becomes empty of toothpaste 16, another full one need only be substituted for it. Replacement is simple and follows the basic steps outlined above.

While the dispensing toothbrush 10 has been described with a high degree of particularity, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the field that modifications can be made to it. For example, the reservoir 28 can be made from a transparent material and the cover 54 can be provided with a window so as to permit a user to more accurately gauge his rate of toothpaste consumption. Also, sealing elements can be provided between the bottom wall 32 and stub shaft 50 as well as the body 64 and the spout 42 to ensure that toothpaste 16 does not leak from the toothbrush 16. Therefore, it is to be understood that my invention is not limited solely to the toothbrush 10 described above, but encompasses any and all toothbrushes falling within the scope of the following claims. 

1. A dispensing toothbrush, comprising: a hollow handle; a toothpaste being positioned within said handle; a piston being positioned within said handle below said toothpaste; a brush being affixed to the top of said handle, said brush having an internal channel in fluid communication with said handle and providing a means for said toothpaste to exit said toothbrush; a ball valve being positioned within said channel for preventing toothpaste from inadvertently leaking from said toothbrush; and, a thumbscrew being rotatably secured to said handle, said thumbscrew including: a threaded rod positioned within said handle and being threadably engaged with said piston; and, a knob being affixed to the bottom of said threaded rod and being positioned outside said handle whereby rotating said knob causes said piston to be driven upwardly to push said toothpaste from said handle, past said ball valve, and from said brush.
 2. The dispensing toothbrush according to claim 1 wherein said handle includes: a protective cover; a toothpaste reservoir being removably positioned with said protective cover, said reservoir including: a container carrying said toothpaste and said piston; and, a helically threaded spout projecting from the top of said container and through said protective cover; and, said brush being threadably fastened to said spout. 